Even in this age of electronics, we use a lot of paper in the United States -- about 70 million tons of paper and paperboard each year, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Paper and paper products are recycled to a greater extent than any other waste product in the U.S., representing a 66 percent recycling rate. The advantages of recycling paper include saving energy, water and landfill space. Paper recycling reduces greenhouse gas emissions and the recycled fiber is a sustainable, cost-saving resource for making new paper products.

Saves Space in Landfills

Paper makes up about 28 percent of solid trash in landfills and one ton of paper takes up about 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space, according to the EPA. Recycling paper and cardboard saves space in landfills for trash that cannot be recycled and saving space in landfills reduces the need to build more landfills. Many communities oppose the building of new landfills in their neighborhoods.

Saves Energy and Water

Making recycled paper pulp, compared to generating pulp from trees and other plants to make new paper products, consumes less energy and water. Recycling one ton of paper saves energy equivalent to the energy needed to power the average U.S. home for six months and saves about 7,000 gallons of water. Making recycled paper into new paper products saves energy and water because the number of energy-intensive steps and processes that use water are reduced.

Reduces Greenhouse Gases

Recycling paper reduces methane and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. When paper decomposes anaerobically in landfills, it produces the gas methane. Methane, a highly potent greenhouse gas, together with carbon dioxide contribute to global climate change. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and when they are cut down to make paper products, more carbon dioxide is released than absorbed. Processing wood to make paper pulp using fossil fuel-based energy releases additional carbon dioxide. According to the EPA, recycling one ton of paper can reduce greenhouse gas levels by one metric ton of carbon equivalent.

Preserving Resources

Recycling paper preserves trees and forests. Every ton of recycled paper saves about 17 trees. Recycled paper serves as an environmentally friendly resource for paper manufacturers, saving costs and energy. However, paper can only be recycled five to seven times before the paper fibers become too short. Material consisting of short fibers can be composted, burned for energy or used as landfill.

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About the Author

Based in Connecticut, Marie-Luise Blue writes a local gardening column and has been published in "Organic Gardening" and "Back Home." Blue has a Ph.D. in biological sciences from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and wrote scientific articles for almost 20 years before starting to write gardening articles in 2004.